Promoted Somerset Eagles crashed to the biggest defeat in the First Division so far this season as neighbours Somerset Trojans showed no mercy in this West End derby.

But for a missed penalty in the first half by captain Duane DeRosa, as well as a host of other chances that were either saved by goalkeeper Ricky Tucker or put high or wide, the Trojans' victory could have been even more convincing.

In the end two goals from striker Lamaul Crofton and one each from Rodney Bascome and Jermaine Burrows was enough to secure the points which lifted Somerset to second place in the standings, with six points from three matches.

The home team made their greater experience work in their favour from the outset as they created the better of the early chances before Crofton notched his second goal of the season in the 14th minute.

Tucker, a former Trojans player, was in a determined mood and stood between Somerset with a couple of diving saves in the first nine minutes.

However, he could do nothing to stop Crofton from finding the net after Bascome broke free down the middle and laid on the chance for Crofton to fire into the back of the net.

Eagles were struggling to keep up as Somerset controlled the game, with Bascome putting a left foot shot wide before the home side earned a penalty which should have spelt further gloom for Eagles. Curtis Grant was fouled in the box in the 25th minute but DeRosa's spotkick was saved by the diving Tucker who judged correctly in going to his left.

Referee Roddy Burchall nearly "set up'' a second Somerset goal in the 37th minute when an Eagles play broke down after a scorcher from Frank Smith struck Burchall in the face on the edge of the Somerset penalty area. A stunned Burchall recovered as the ball rebounded over the halfway line for Bascome to head for goal on a breakaway. However, he wasted the chance from the left side of the penalty area after rounding the 'keeper, with the shot ending up in the side netting.

The second half was just two minutes old when the Trojans doubled their lead.

A Grant corner on the left beat both Tucker and a defender for height and Jermaine Burrows at the far post had the simple task of nodding a free header inside the post.

Somerset were expected to run riot after that but a smartly taken goal by Burrows at the other end in the 56th minute brought Eagles back into the game.

Burrows, with what looked like an intended cross from the right, scored when Hendrickson misjudged the cross and watched with embarrassment as the ball found the net at the far post.

Eagles were too close for comfort and the Trojans stepped up their game enough to push aside the threat. A Crofton shot took a deflection before Tucker pulled off another save but he could do little to stop Bascome's blast four minutes later in the 62nd minute.

Eagles captain Everett Wellman, at left-back, gave away the ball from a free kick and Grant supplied the cross from the opposite flank for Bascome to blast a shot past Tucker from 10 yards. Wellman was replaced immediately as Eagles started to lose their edge.

Somerset put the match out of their reach with a fourth goal in the 71st minute when Crofton made Tucker pay for dropping a cross by putting in a shot that found the net despite the efforts of a defender on the line.

Trojans: A.Hendrickson; R.Butterfield, D.DeRosa, T.Dickinson, E.Dean, J.Burrows, K.Simmons (D.Binns 62 mins), C.Grant (M.Butterfield 76 mins), A.Rahman, L.Crofton, R.Bascome.

Eagles: R.Tucker; W.Wellman, F.Smith, C.Williams, E.Wellman (R.Hill 65 mins), O.Riley (E.Callender 57 mins), R.Simmons, D.Minors, S.Burrows, R.Wilson, R.Brangman (D.Durrant 62 mins).

Men of match: Lamaul Crofton (Trojans), Stephen Burrows (Eagles).

Referee: Roddy Burchall.